Dianthus plant named ‘Midtemari’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Dianthus plant named ‘Midtemari’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; moderately strong flower stems; early flowering habit; large flowers fully covered with numerous bright green-colored bracts; and good container and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Dianthus barbatus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MIDTEMARI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dianthus plant, botanically known as Dianthus barbatus, grown commercially as a container and/or garden plant and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Midtemari’.

The new Dianthus plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Dianthus barbatus ‘Temarisou’, not patented. The new Dianthus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor on Mar. 10, 2015 as a single plant from within a population of plants of ‘Temarisou’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Hidakagun, Wakayama, Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dianthus plant by in vitro meristem culture propagated in a controlled environment in Kobuchizawa, Yamanashi, Japan since Oct. 1, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Dianthus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dianthus have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Midtemari’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Midtemari’ as a new and distinct Dianthus plant:

-   -   1. Compact and upright plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Moderately strong flower stems.     -   4. Early flowering habit.     -   5. Large flowers with numerous bright green-colored bracts.     -   6. Good container and garden performance.

Plants of the new Dianthus differ primarily from plants of the mutation parent, ‘Temarisou’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dianthus are more compact than plants of         ‘Temarisou’; additionally, plants of ‘Temarisou’ are more         suitable as a cut flower rather than a container or garden         plant.     -   2. Plants of the new Dianthus flower about one month earlier         than plants of ‘Temarisou’.

Plants of the new Dianthus can be compared to plants of Dianthus barbatus ‘Breagreen’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,026. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Dianthus differ primarily from plants of ‘Breagreen’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dianthus are more compact and less vigorous         than plants of ‘Breagreen’; additionally, plants of ‘Breagreen’         are more suitable as a cut flower rather than a container or         garden plant.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Dianthus are lighter green in         color than leaves of plants of ‘Breagreen’.     -   3. Plants of the new Dianthus flower about one month earlier         than plants of ‘Breagreen’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Dianthus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Dianthus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Midtemari’.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Midtemari’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring and summer in 10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Hokuto-City, Yamanashi, Japan and under cultural practices typical of commercial container Dianthus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25° C., night temperatures averaged 20° C. and light levels averaged 80,000 lux. Plants were 13 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dianthus barbatus ‘Breagreen’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Dianthus     barbatus ‘Temarisou’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at ambient             temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 30° C. and soil             temperature about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at ambient             temperatures ranging from 12° C. to 20° C. and soil             temperature about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About five             weeks at ambient temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 30° C.             and soil temperature about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About six             weeks at ambient temperatures ranging from 12° C. to 20° C.             and soil temperature about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically close to 155C in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; compact and             upright plant form with moderately strong flowering stems;             narrow inverted triangle; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Basal-branching growth habit, about five to             seven flowering stems develop per plant.         -   Plant height.—About 20 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 25 cm.         -   Flowering stems.—Length: About 20 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Internode length: About 5 cm. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to             143A; at the nodes, close to 143B.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple; sessile.             Length: About 1.9 cm to 9 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm to 6 cm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Long cuneate,             decurrent. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Venation pattern:             Parallel. Color: Developing leaves, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 143C. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to 137A. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation,             close to 137C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single, almost spherical,             terminal flowers without floral structures typical of             Dianthus plants; flower head fully covered with sepals and             modified bracts.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering is continuous through             the summer into the autumn in Japan; early flowering habit,             plants begin flowering about ten weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Good postproduction longevity with flowers             lasting about 30 days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Petals.—None observed to date.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: About 80. Length: About 1.6 cm.             Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Long acuminate.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When             opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143C. Fully             opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143B; color does             not change with subsequent development.         -   Bracts.—Quantity per flower: About 102. Length: About             1.7 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Long             acuminate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte.             Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             143C. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143C;             color does not change with subsequent development.         -   Reproductive organs.—None observed to date.         -   Fruits and seeds.—None observed to date. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Dianthus have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dianthus     plants to date. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Dianthus have been observed to     have good garden performance, to tolerate rain and to tolerant to     temperatures ranging from 5° C. to 30° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dianthus plant named ‘Midtemari’ as illustrated and described. 